Second-year pro Rahim Moore is entrenched as the Broncos' starting free safety on a defense that seems to improve weekly. But last fall at about this time, coaches and fans — and perhaps Moore himself — had to wonder about his NFL future. Or at least his status with the franchise.

The former UCLA standout had lost his starting job because of poor tackling and erratic performances. He was even designated inactive for a game, Dec. 4 at Minnesota. Moore said he never considered himself to be an incompetent tackler, but he realized that part of his game needed work.

He engaged in some mixed martial-arts training during the offseason.

"I worked on bringing guys down, grabbing their legs and doing some of the things the MMA guys do," Moore said Friday after practice."You just want to bring them down fast.

"But really, one way you make tackles is just being more comfortable out there," he added. "You're seeing the splits, seeing the quarterback, seeing how one guy is off the ball, one guy is on the ball. And just reacting to that."

Moore has been solid and reliable this season. He ranks third on the team in total tackles (47) and is tied for second with strong safety Mike Adams in unassisted tackles (37) behind linebacker Wesley Woodyard (46).

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"Last year when I went out there, the field seemed big," Moore said. "Now it feels smaller. It's just being a year older and understanding how the game goes. I look upon my first season like being a new parent. When you're a new parent, how do you know what to do? Now, I know."

Broncos safety Rahim Moore, a second-round pick in the 2011 draft, grabs Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker by the ankles during a game this season at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

"We've emphasized tackling (as a team)," Del Rio said this week. "Rahim has worked hard to give himself an opportunity to play well. At safety, you've got to be able to communicate with the corners and everybody in the back end and make sure everybody's on the same page. He's done that."

At UCLA, Moore was known as a ball hawk. He led the nation with 10 interceptions — as a sophomore. Moore freelanced and floated all over the field during his college days, but that doesn't necessarily work in the NFL.

At this level, trying to outguess the quarterback and taking chances in the secondary can lead to trouble, big trouble. NFL quarterbacks will make you pay for being out of position.

Moore said he didn't get down on himself last year after losing his starting job "because it was my fault. If I had always made the tackles I was supposed to make, it would have been no problem."

"But that experience made me a better football player," he added. "I'm playing the best football I've ever played. It's the time of your life when you know you have to work at something.

"I came back thinking, 'I'm going to get my (starting) spot back and I'm never going to give it back.' And I meant that in the most humbling way."

Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey suggested that Moore may not have been prepared last fall to be an immediate starter as a rookie.

"I think it was tough for him last year, a guy like that coming in and getting thrown into the starting lineup right after the lockout," Bailey said.

"That had to be a tough situation for him. He's grown up a lot. I think he's starting to understand the game a lot better too. All that combined makes him a better player. He's more polished, more experienced."

Rockies are on pace to lose 93 games this seasonThe Rockies lost three of four in St. Louis and are on pace to lose 93 games as they come home for a three-game series with Seattle before going back on the road again to face Washington.